Simply Ravishing goes nine furlongs in Saratoga Dew, her first start since April
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Simply Ravishing, a Grade 1-winning 2-year-old filly in 2020, looks to jump-start her career where it all began when she heads a field of five in Thursday’s $100,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-bred females at Saratoga.
Last year, Simply Ravishing began her career at Saratoga with a maiden victory on the turf and then a 6 1/2-length score in the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson Stakes, where she beat Con Lima, winner of Sunday’s Grade 3, $700,000 Saratoga Oaks.
Simply Ravishing, a daughter of Laoban, beat her stablemate Crazy Beautiful in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland before ending her 2-year-old campaign with fourth-place finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Golden Rod.
In her 3-year-old debut, Simply Ravishing finished last in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland. Simply Ravishing came out of that race with a throat issue and her connections, while giving her time off, attempted to breed her to Into Mischief. After three attempts, she did not catch.
Ultimately, Simply Ravishing was put back in training. Trainer Ken McPeek thought he had found an ideal spot for her return in the $150,000 Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series on turf last Wednesday, but he was not permitted to enter because at the time of entry McPeek’s barn was still under quarantine. It was lifted on Aug. 1.
In running in this race, Simply Ravishing will have to try and get 1 1/8 miles in her first start in four months.
“It’s definitely asking a bit of her, but her last couple of works in company were super,” McPeek said. “She should be fit enough to get that distance.”
Luis Saez, Simply Ravishing’s regular rider in 2020 and the leading rider at this Saratoga meet, has the call from post 2.
Mrs. Orb, a multiple stakes-winning 6-year-old mare, looks like the main threat should Simply Ravishing fail to fire. Mrs. Orb, who was put back in training following a failed bid to sell her at auction in January, is coming off a half-length victory in the Caesar’s Wish Stakes at Pimlico on July 4. That effort followed a third-place finish to the streaking Bank Sting in the Critical Eye on May 31.
“She’s doing as well as she was going into her last race,” Mike Miceli, trainer and part-owner of Mrs. Orb, said. “I think the first race back, she probably needed it and has been training forwardly ever since then.”
In the Caesar’s Wish, Mrs. Orb rallied from 10 lengths back, owing to a fast early pace. She has won at nine furlongs laying closer to the pace.
Espresso Shot, who has had most of her success in one-turn races, Dancing Kiki, and Maiden Beauty complete the field.
With a short field and likely overwhelming favorite, the Saratoga Dew was carded as race 3 on Thursday’s 10-race program.